Amid cheering crowds and historic landmarks, the 2024 London Marathon delivered a spectacle of athleticism and grit, culminating in a new women's-only world record.
Ethiopia's Tigst Assefa broke away from a lead pack of four in the final 10K to cross the line in a stunning 2:15:50, shaving 26 seconds off the previous mark of 2:16:16.
"I'm really happy to win and break the world record today," Assefa said afterward. "I've trained relentlessly for this moment." The 28-year-old, who finished second last year, dominated the race in the absence of Kenya's Peres Jepchirchir.
Kenyans Joyciline Jepkosgei and Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands completed the podium, logging 2:18:43 and 2:18:59 respectively. Jepkosgei stayed with the leaders past the halfway point but fell back in the closing miles.
On the men's side, nine runners ran shoulder-to-shoulder for nearly 30 kilometers before Kenyan Sabastian Sawe surged ahead to win in 2:02:27, just seconds off the course best. Uganda's Jacob Kiplimo took silver in 2:03:37, and Kenya's defending champion Alexander Mutiso Munyao earned bronze in 2:04:20.
Legendary Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, finished sixth in 2:05:25. "I'm 40 so it was no problem at all, that's sport. I don't need to prove anything to anyone," he said, delighting fans who lined the streets of London.
The wheelchair races showcased more champions. Swiss star Marcel Hug claimed the men's event in 1:25:25, while compatriot Catherine Debrunner topped the women's field in 1:34:18, underlining the depth of talent in adaptive sports.
With record-breaking performances across all categories, this edition of the London Marathon reaffirmed its status as a global stage for storytelling, data-driven strategy, and pure human determination.
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Ethiopia's Assefa breaks women's-only world record at London Marathon
cgtn.com
